Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Cost Management has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with accuracy of cost estimates. This growing interest reflects the recognition that building information modeling (BIM) for cost management does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Selected Local Government Areas in Nigeria.

Selected Local Government Areas in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on building information modeling (BIM) for cost management, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with accuracy of cost estimates, particularly within Selected Local Government Areas in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about building information modeling (BIM) for cost management without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect accuracy of cost estimates. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Cost Management on accuracy of cost estimates in Selected Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which building information modeling (BIM) for cost management influences accuracy of cost estimates within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in relation to accuracy of cost estimates.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in order to improve accuracy of cost estimates.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of building information modeling (BIM) for cost management on accuracy of cost estimates in Selected Local Government Areas in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does building information modeling (BIM) for cost management influence accuracy of cost estimates within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in relation to accuracy of cost estimates?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in order to improve accuracy of cost estimates?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around accuracy of cost estimates. For managers and practitioners within Selected Local Government Areas in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how building information modeling (BIM) for cost management can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on quantity surveying by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Cost Management and its relationship with accuracy of cost estimates within the context of Selected Local Government Areas in Nigeria. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.